In France, the holiday season officially ends January 31st. Until then, decorations and crèches de noël in churches and homes are left up, cartes de voeux sent out, galettes des rois consumed. Wishing shopkeepers and anyone else you run into a Bonne Année won't be considered unusual and, as the month wanes, "It's still January!" ("C'est encore janvier!") might be added. Like now.
Christmas Day with its sumptuous sit-down lunch is bigger than New Year's Day or even La Fête des Rois, January 6th. Celebrated mostly among family, it's an occasion to dust off that wedding gift or heirloom china, crystal, and silver, and when the pre-lunch apéritif is taken into account, it can easily stretch into five hours. At the end of the meal, a digestif (to help digestion, as its name implies) will also get its own glass. - BPJ
Above: multiple courses mean several plates and glasses per setting, w/each course requiring its own wine
See post: En famille
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- L'art de la table dans la tradition française -
Where to find it:
Europe's biggest flea market
rue des Rosiers 93400 Saint-Ouen
[best Saturday or Sunday; try to avoid lunch time 12:30-2:30 p.m.]
Upscale antique shops for glassware, tableware, crystal, silver on
rue des Saints-Pères
[start at the river and zig-zag up the street until you arrive at rue Jacob]
